Keewatin Council approves ‘Little Free Library’

After listening to a presentation from Herb Smart of Thrivent Financial, Keewatin city councilors approved moving forward with the “Little Free Library” at last week’s council meeting.

Smart told the council that Thrivent is reaching out to local communities on this initiative and would install the small (about 2’ X 2’) facility, which can house about 20 to 40 books. The small library offers the books for local children, who can return them after reading on a honor system or leave another book in exchange.

After the small facility is put in place, Thrivent Financial will seek a partnership with a local organization to decorate the book storage facility, which will be located in the park across from City Hall. Thrivent also plans an open house for its Hibbing office, which will solicit book donations to initially stock the Little Free Library.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization with the goal of promoting reading and literacy. As of January, there were 15,000 Little Free Libraries located around the world. For more information visit, littlefreelibrary.org.

In other business, the council:

• Noted that the IRRRB is requesting follow-up reports on grants given to the city. Mayor Bill King said that most IRRRB grant projects in Keewatin are still works in progress, with the exception of the Pro Blast infrastructure project. The city will complete a report on that project to IRRRB.

• Declined to take action on a donation request from the Itasca County Historical Society, which is asking cities throughout the county to donate $1 per resident.

• Approved a volunteer project for the NK Spartan cheerleaders, who offered to repaint the city basketball court. The city will provide supplies for the project.

• Approved the list of election judges for 2014.

• Noted that the city received a letter from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency which acknowledged preliminary approval for city’s wastewater treatment facilities plan. The city’s current facility was built in the 1940s and has not had a major upgrade since the 1980s. The plan sent to the MPCA this spring was known as the “preferred” plan and provides for growth as well as solving current maintenance and code compliance problems.

• Approved a rebuild of the steps to the city’s police station. Preliminary estimates indicate a cost below $3,000. The money for the project will come from the city hall improvement fund.